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Secret papers face faster release Secret papers face faster release
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The 30-year rule on publishing confidential UK government papers should be reduced to 15 years, an official review has concluded.The 30-year rule on publishing confidential UK government papers should be reduced to 15 years, an official review has concluded.
The independent review, headed by the editor of the Daily Mail, Paul Dacre, was set up by Gordon Brown shortly after he became prime minister. Most papers are published by the National Archives after 30 years.
Most papers are transferred to the National Archives after 30 years. The review recommends changing this to 15 years by releasing an additional year's records each year from 2010.
The review recommends changing this to 15 years by releasing an additional year's records each year. The review panel, headed by Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre, said the change would strike the right balance between "effective and open" government.
If the proposals are accepted by ministers, this would see records for both 1979 and 1980 released next year. 'Unnecessary secrecy'
The changes will be phased in over 15 years and are likely to cost about £75m. If the proposals are accepted by ministers records for both 1979 and 1980 would be released next year.
Key decisions Two year's worth of records would then be released every year until 2024, with 2009's records being published in 2025.
The review of the current rules, in place since 1967, was set up by Gordon Brown shortly after he became prime minister.
Also sitting on the review panel were historian Professor David Cannadine and Sir Joseph Pilling, former Permanent Secretary at the Northern Ireland Office.
People hoping for a speedy revelation of secrets from the mid-1990s will be disappointed by the report.People hoping for a speedy revelation of secrets from the mid-1990s will be disappointed by the report.
But relaxation of the rules will mean that papers from the early 1980s, covering certain decisions made by the Thatcher government during the Falklands War and the miners strike, will be released earlier than would have been the case. But relaxation of the rules would mean that papers from the early 1980s, covering certain decisions made by the Thatcher government during the Falklands War and the miners strike, would be released earlier than would have been the case.
Mr Dacre also recommends that rules governing the publication of sensitive information by ministers and their advisers in diaries soon after they have left office be reviewed. WHEN INFORMATION FOR KEY YEARS WOULD BE PUBLISHED 1979 (Tory victory) - 20101982 (Falklands war) - 20111990 (Thatcher resigns) - 20151997 (Labour victory) - 20192003 (Iraq war) - 2022
He said restrictions on what could be disclosed - put in place after details of Cabinet meetings were included in the Richard Crossman diaries published in 1975 - had been "increasingly flouted" in recent years and could not be properly enforced. In reaching its recommendations, the panel agreed attitudes towards the amount of accountability and openness expected in public life had changed dramatically since the 1960s.
Mr Dacre said the UK had one of the "less liberal" systems for publishing official documents in Europe and any "unnecessary secrecy" risked increasing cynicism about government.
However, the panel also concluded the "anonymity" of senior civil servants must be protected to enable them to do their jobs - and said that if records of decisions were published less than 15 years after being taken ministers might have to "refight old battles" while still in government.
The panel also recommends that rules governing the publication of sensitive information by ministers and their advisers in diaries soon after they have left office be reviewed.
Restrictions on what could be disclosed - put in place after details of Cabinet meetings were included in Richard Crossman's diaries published in 1975 - had been "increasingly flouted" in recent years, the panel concluded.
Justice Secretary Jack Straw welcomed the report but did not commit to the 15-year time limit.
"The government will respond to its recommendations in due course but agrees that there should be a substantial reduction in the period after which official papers should generally be released to the public," he said.
Key decisions
The Public Records Act 1958 introduced the right of access to government records with a 50-year rule, which was reduced to 30 years in 1967.The Public Records Act 1958 introduced the right of access to government records with a 50-year rule, which was reduced to 30 years in 1967.
HOW INFORMATION IS CURRENTLY RELEASED Papers are released 30 years after the date of the last document or record, plus one extra year. Papers for 1978 became available at the start of 2009Departments can request information to be withheld if it is thought to threaten national security or contain distressing personal detailsDecision on publication is taken by the Lord Chancellor after consultation with a advisory committee of MPs, Judges and academics
At present, some papers are released sooner than 30 years as a result of Freedom of Information requests - which gives people the right to see information held by a public body - while a few are kept private for longer.At present, some papers are released sooner than 30 years as a result of Freedom of Information requests - which gives people the right to see information held by a public body - while a few are kept private for longer.
HOW INFORMATION IS RELEASED Papers are released 30 years after the date of the last document or record, plus one extra year. Papers for 1978 became available at the start of 2009Departments can request information to be withheld if it is thought to threaten national security or contain distressing personal detailsDecision on publication is taken by the Lord Chancellor after consultation with a advisory committee of MPs, Judges and academics
But information which potentially threatens national security, or which contains distressing personal details, can still be kept secret for longer as long as it is exempt from the FOI act.But information which potentially threatens national security, or which contains distressing personal details, can still be kept secret for longer as long as it is exempt from the FOI act.
Decisions on what information can be retained are made by the Lord Chancellor following consultation with a committee of judges, MPs, academics and archevists.Decisions on what information can be retained are made by the Lord Chancellor following consultation with a committee of judges, MPs, academics and archevists.
Freedom of Information campaigners have called for a reduction in the time limit to 15 years, if necessary in two stages. Freedom of Information campaigners called for a reduction in the time limit to 15 years, arguing that the introduction of FOI laws had undermined the principle of the 30-year rule.
In its submission to the Dacre review, the Campaign for Freedom of Information said the introduction of FOI laws had undermined the principle of the 30-year rule.
But sceptics say releasing papers relating to crucial government decisions earlier could make politicians and their advisers less frank in expressing their views and recording them at the time.
Also sitting on the review panel with Mr Dacre were historian Professor Sir David Cannadine and Sir Joseph Pilling, former Permanent Secretary at the Northern Ireland Office.
The government will decide whether or not to act on their recommendations.
The latest papers to be released under the 30-year rule, at the end of last year, covered events in 1978.The latest papers to be released under the 30-year rule, at the end of last year, covered events in 1978.
These revealed, among other things, the then Prime Minister Jim Callaghan's concerns about the country's ability to defend itself against a Russian attack.